grooming before turning out????

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nellygal

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Hi All. I am currently doing an NVQ level 2 in horse care, As part of this I will have to take part in a for/against discussion on the topic of 'grooming before turning out'. I can't find any info on this in books or on the internet, it all seems to be grooming in general or grooming before riding.

I was wondering what people think on this topic.....whether people do groom before they turn out ??????

Any thoughts gratefully received.
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too much grooming can take out some of the oils that make the horse waterproof.
strapping is done after exercise.
when you say `grooming before turning out`,does that include sponge and bucket?
i always give mine a quick brush over,just habit really.

just my thoughs on it.
 
hi. i was just thinking. a brush, feet done, etc. not necessarily buckets and sponges. it would just be interesting to see what people do, apart from my nvq i am hoping to get my own next year so peoples advice would be great
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Definitely not, they are lucky to see a brush before riding, let alone afterwards!

Seriously though, two cobs, both living out all year round, one will be clipped and rugged, and the other unclipped/unrugged. The most we do before turning back out after a ride is sponge off any sweaty bits, that goes for summer and winter, although winter it will be kept to the bare minimum - girth area, gullet etc.
 
from my point of view,i turn out after riding,so a quick do over to get sweat off makes for cleaner horse for next time or if rugged,keeps rug inside cleaner and therefore more comfortable for the horse and a chance to cool off.it i turn out but have not ridden,i would prob do a quick flick over anyway.
i keep my fav brush(it`s an old dandy brush that is so well worn it is almost like a body brush or a cross of them both!` and hoofpick over the stable door so don`t get the whole box out.
 
When mine is clipped she gets brushed and strapped every time her rugs get changed and she looks fantastic. Before she is clipped she gets a flick off of stable stains with a Dandy brush before going out, and grass stains off when she comes in. She is grey though!!!
 
I will pick out feet and then give my mare the once over with a dandy brush before going out - not so much for the brushing thing but to give her the once over and check for any cuts, lumps, bumps etc, Any cuts/scabs get some nice pink gunk on to keep the mud out and also she likes to roll in her stable , then in the mud and it is a pain to groom just mud off never mind the delightful dried mud/shavings mix she manages to concoct if I dont!
 
Mine normally gets a quick flick and feet picked out in the mornings before going out, mainly to check if she has damaged herself overnight and to remove the shavings she covers herself in.
She gets a proper strapping after being worked though.
 
Why groom before turnout? When I first bought Sunny, he had been a very overworked riding school horse. And he had nasty rainscald on his back, where the saddle goes. The riding school horses get no turnout from October to May, just the lessons and hacks that they do so it wasn't from the weather. Rainscald on the saddle patch = sweaty horse that no-one could be arsed to brush or sponge off even though he had just uncomplainingly earned his owners £25. I pick his feet out after every hack (just in case) and groom any sweaty bits away before he goes back out. The way I see it, a well kept horse should NEVER have rainscald from being put away/turned out sweaty and wet.
 
I tend to groom before I turn out, sometimes it seems a pointless task as the first thing they do is go and roll! However what it does achieve is a daily routine of a good check all over, especially for ticks which are in high numbers here. Also I spray and comb the manes/tails every morning and that way I never have to fight with a dreadlocked mess. Yes it does take the oils out of the coat however they are stabled every night in winter and when it gets colder (about this time here) they are in high quality rugs with neck covers.
 
depends how im feeling , and the cleanliness of the horse at the time, i have a grey and a chestnut , and both look great when clean , grey does like to be filthy , but chestnut isnt really a roller !!
 
In an NVQ discussion on this subject my view would be 'for'.
Mainly so that you can quickly assess the horse, making sure there are no cuts, scrapes, swellings etc. Picking their feet out to check the shoes and nails are still ok.

I suppose I would call it 'setting fair' rather than grooming.
 
If they have been ridden, any sweat is washed/sponged off, feet are checked, quick flick over and that is it.

If going out from the stable in the morning, nothing as they are normally clean from the night before.

Way I see it, spending ages grooming before turnout is a waste of energy, with mine, they are going down on the mud/grass and rolling within minutes of arrival.

In the winter they get a flick over to make sure they are basically clean and at the weekend get a good in depth groom.

In winter, I try to give Chancer time off from being constantly cleaned - he has enough of having to stand around being primped during the show season as I give him 24 hour turn out.
 
So Grooming take all the oils out of the coat does it ? Hmmh.
Constant Bathing takes all the oils out of the coat.

I groom before turnout as its usually after riding. Its the best time to remove loose hair etc. Grooming with a body brush stimulates the circulation and promotes the release of oil into the coat. A thorough groom also gives you a chance to find any bumps scratches and signs of wear and tear on the horse etc.
 
i always give a good flick over before turn out and mine is rugged
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i get to know his legs so will notice any abnormallities. he is given a thorough groom before riding and a flick over any sweaty patches after riding.
 
Grooming will not take oils out of the coat! It is a chance to check for general wellbeing, any nicks or lumps etc. Also, it actually gets rid of any dead hair and helps in getting the circulation going to get the blood pumping. Strapping will also do this. Over bathing will get rid of oils in the coat but that would much depend on the purpose of the horse. Out all year unclipped then yes you will need oils but clipped, stabled and rugged then they are not going to be a lot of use.

I dont brush before each turnout but every day before and after he is ridden and when he is brought in from the field.
 
I groom quickly before riding and then just brush over saddle area after before turnout, but then the ones I ride are usually rugged up. I very rarely brush my 2 natives in the winter as dont want to remove their oils but I do make sure to pick their feet out regularily (even though they live out 24/7).
 
hi all. well thank you all for your opinions on the matter. its impossible to find anything in books or on the net reference to grooming before turning out if they havent been ridden. i didnt expect this many responses! thanks all!

i personally would go for the 'for' side of things. of course there will be times when time is tight and when i get my own i will prob occasionally turn it out without having a brush but i think most of the time it'd be a yes. more for the point of checking over for lumps/bumps/scratches etc.

once again, brill response everybody. THANKS ! x
 
I groom Jake before and after he is ridden and also when he is not ridden. He likes it, but during the winter, I ensure I do not take out too much of his natural waterproofing and use a dandy brush.

Jake has funny skin and this helps keep it in good condition as well.
 
Another groom before and after!

I give a brief flick over before riding, using it to check for any heat/cuts/bumps that had happened since being turned out the night before- inclucding feet picking.

If we have ridden then i wash any sweaty parts and again, give a flick over.

Regardless if i have not ridden, he gets groomed every day as i think not only is it an important way to continue the bond with your horse but its the perfect time to remove loose hair and check the horse over.
 
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